Foldable golf bag carriage



June 3, 1952 I J. L. STABLEFORD 2,599,354

FOLDABLE cow BAG CARRIAGE Filed 001:. 11, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor:

Jam 1.5% By Attorney June 3, 1952 J. 1.. STABLEFORD 2,599,354

FOLDABLE GOLF BAG CARRIAGE Filed Oct. 11, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor: (/MMU QM June 3, 1952 J. L. STABLEFORD 2,599,354

FOLDABLE GOLF BAG CARRIAGE Filed Oct. 11. 1949 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Attorney J. L. STABLEFORD FOLDABLE GOLF BAG CARRIAGE June 3, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 11. 1949 FIGS WMUW

Patented June 3, 1952 units!) stares ear-Eur -FOLDABL-E GOLF BAG CARRIAGE John ;L. Stableford, London, England Application October 11, 1349, Serial No. 120,728

'In Great Britain October 22, 1948 :1 This invention concerns a :new' or improved golf bag carriage and has particular :reference --to the form of carriage-in which "a pair of wheels are carried by legs which can be folded to a stowed position alongside agolf bag mounted on *the carriage or moved to a downwardlyiextended operative position in which they :project transversely from the carriage and bag to support the latter above the ground, -the carriage being furnished with ahandle or .drawbar by which it maybe maneuvered withthe bagamoreor .less

horizontally disposed, and the carriage being capable, when at rest with it legs extended, of serving asa stand for the bag and of :holding the latter in an upwardly :inolined position with its :foot at or near ground level I and with 2 its head or mouth conveniently disposed for removing c ubs from the bag and for. reinserting .them :into

the bag.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved golf bag carriage of the aforementioned form.

:In order that the nature of the invention may be more readily understood and carried into practice, one embodiment of I the same, and cor- {tainmodifications of :such embodiment, will now be described with-reference to the accompany- 'ing, drawings, in-which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the golf bag carriage according to the said embodiment of the invention, the carriage being shown in-its operative condition and the golf bagbeing indicated dot and dash lines on the-carriage;

Figure -2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a golf bag applied to the carriage and illustrating the latter in 'a collapsed or stowed condition;

-Figure3 isarear elevation of oneof the .legs and the associated-part of the-crosspieceof the backbone-ofthe carriage;

Figure 4 is'a side elevation takeninthe direc- 7 tion of arrow A, Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevation-taken in the. direction of arrow-B,-Figure 3;

Figure -6 is an enlarged part sectional eleva lies alongside the backbone l therewith but is offset laterally from the back- Figures 11 and 12 arerespectively a rear elevationand part sectional plan of a modification of the wheel mountings shown in Figures 3 and 5; and. V

Figure 13 shows analternate form f of the wheel mounting.

Referring to Figures 1 to 10 of the drawings,

it will be seen that the golf .bag carriage there illustrated comprises a straight IrigidLbackbOne l which is conveniently formed-of metal tube and alongand above which the golf bag 2 is adapted to lie with the backbone I under the longitudinal centre line of the undersurface of .theibag.

At one end the backbone is furnished .With

an L-shaped foot 3, .the upturned limb A of which adapted to engage against the bottom 5,-0f the -bag 2 to preventth latter sliding down the, ba kbone I.

To the foot L3 is .lfixed .-a transversely arranged U-shaped bracket :5 adapted to receive within'it thefoot endof the bag so as to position the latter centrally in a transverse direction with respect to the backbone I, the Ueshaped bracket being furnished with an adjustable strap 1 adapted to embrace the foot end of the bag to hold the latter upon the backbone l.

A -U-shaped bracket 8, similar to the bracket 6, is provided for holding and positioning :the neck'ormouth end of the :bag '2 upon-thebackbone, -the bracket.8 being furnished with an adjustablestraplfilsimilar :to the strap Fl and being carried upon a :head bracket H! which ;is.;co nveniently in :the .form'of a metal casting fixed at oneend 'uponlthe front end of the backbone and projecting laterally from the backbone I at right angles thereto as clearly shown in Figures 1,;8 and'l0 of thedrawings.

In the outer end of the head'bracketrlll fixed to the backbone l is .adjustably mounted, in a telescopic -fashion, an adjustable and stowable handle by which theicarriage may be towedor ortherwise maneuvered, this handle-conveniently beinglformed. of metal tube andhaving a crooked front end I2. The stem of the said handle in parallelism bone so that :the handle does .notvobstruct the mouth-of thebag 2 and renderdifficult the withdrawal-of clubs from, orthereplacement of clubs into, the bag.

The stem 1 l of the said handlezis axially ,ad- 'justable in the head bracket 10, being hous ediin a transverse bore in this vbracket which is fur- ;nished with a longitudinallysplit boss 13 atone end, such boss'having a'pair of lugs l4, I35 arranged one on either side of the split in the boss and being adapted to be drawn together by means of a knurled nut It on the screw-threaded end of a bolt or stud I'I anchored to the lug I4 and passing freely through the lug I5. Thus the nut I8 may be released and the stem II of the said handle axially adjusted in the head bracket I I] to any desired position such as, for example, the extended. position shown in full lines in Figure 1 or the stowed position shown in dotted lines at I8 in Figure 1 and the full line position shown in Figure 2. Also the handle may be turned about the longitudinal axis of its stem I I so that its crooked end I2 projects upwardly as shown in Figure 1 or occupies an inverted position in which the crook lies below the stem of the handle instead of above it, as shown. The crook could, of course, be adjusted to any other position about the axis of the stem II of the handle.

To look the said handle against rotation in the head bracket II] when extended, the inner end of the handle is provided with a cross pin I9 (Figure 1) which, when the handle is pulled outwardly to its maximum extent, engages in diametrically opposite grooves 23 (Figure 10) in the rear end face of the boss I3 of the head bracket Ill. It will be obvious that, when the handle has been pulled out to this extended position and the nut I6 has been tightened up, the handle will be locked both against axial movement in the head bracket I and also against rotational movement in this head.

If desired, another cross pin 2!, indicated in dotted lines in Figure and similar to the cross- 1 pin I9 above described, may be provided near the crooked end I2 of the handle for engagement with grooves (similar to the grooves correspondingly provided in the front end face of the head bracket I0 to prevent the handle rotating about the axis of its stem when the handle is pushed to its rearmost or stowed position.

Between the'front and rear ends of the back bone I, and rather nearer the rear end than the front end thereof, the backbone is provided with a crosspiece 22 (Figures 1, 3 and 6) which projects laterally perpendicularly from the backbone equally on each side thereof. This crosspiece is conveniently in the form of a metal casting (which may be hollowed for lightness) which has its upper surface 23 recessed to form a saddle or cradle to receive the lower portion of the bag 2 to assist in positioning the latter on the carriage.

To each end of the said crosspiece is independently pivoted the upper end of a leg conveniently formed of metal tube, there being thus two legs which are marked in the drawings respectively 24 and 25. At its lower end each of the legs 24 and 25 carries a tired wheel; as these wheels are identical in form they are both marked with the same reference numeral, namely 26. The legs and wheels and the method of mounting these parts will subsequently be more fully explained.

At each end of the crosspiece 22 is a bracket 21, each bracket being of U-shape in plan and quadrant shape in side elevation and each comprising two parallel side sector-shaped plates or checks 28. The brackets 21 may be formed integrally with the crosspiece 22 or be attached thereto and the longitudinal upper edges of each of the brackets 21 are parallel to one another and to the corresponding edges of the other bracket 21 and also to the longitudinal axis of the backbone I. The rear ends 45 of the brackets 21 are flush with the rear surface of the crosspiece 22 but the brackets project forwardly beyond the front surface of the crosspiece. Also the rear ends of the brackets 21 are recessed at their upper ends at 29 as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.

The brackets 21 are arranged symmetrically one on either side of the longitudinal vertical medial plane of the backbone I, this plane bein indicated in Figure 6 by a dash and dot line 30, and both cheeks 28 of both brackets 21 he in planes which diverge downwardly and outwardly with respect to the plane 30 as is quite clear from Figure 6 Each of the legs 24 and 25 of the carriage has a straight upper portion 3| which is located between the pair of checks 28 of its particular bracket 21, the upper part of the straight portion 3i of each leg being pivoted to its end of the crosspiece 22 and its bracket 21 by means of a pivot stud 32 passing through the upper rear corner of the bracket 21, diametrically through the leg, and screwing into the crosspiece 22 (see Figure 6) and either being riveted over to prevent accidental removal from the crosspiece or bein furnished with a nut (not shown).

The axis 33 of each pivot stud 32 is disposed in a transverse plane perpendicularly penetrated by the longitudinal axis of the backbone I of the carriage. Moreover each pivot stud axis 33 is at right angles to the planes of the cheeks 28 of the bracket 21 through which the pivot stud passes and also inclines, in the said transverse plane,

upwardly and outwardly from the backbone I as is clearly shown in Figure 6, the plane of the drawing representing the said transverse plane. The axes 33 are arranged symmetrically one on either side of, and above, the backbone I and preferably are both arranged in the same transverse plane although they could incline slightly forwardly and outwardly as well and upwardly and outwardly, if desired.

With the axes 33 of the studs 32 arranged as above described, as the legs 24 and 25 are moved from their stowed positions shown in Figure 2 to the extended operative positions shown in Figure 1, the legs swing in planes represented by the dot and dash lines 34 (Figure 6) which are symmetrically downwardly divergent from the said longitudinal vertical medial plane represented by the line 30 so that the lateral spacing of the wheels 26 increases as the legs move from their stowed towards their said operative positions. Thus when the legs are in the stowed position shown in Figure 2 the wheels are close to and lie alongside the bag 2 on the carriage, whilst when the legs are moved to their operative positions the wheels are disposed well below the golf bag 2 and are considerably spaced apart symmetrically on either side of the bag. One of the wheels 26 is shown in Figure 3 in full lines in its operative position but the stowed position of the wheel is also illustrated in dotted lines in this figure so that the marked inward movement of the wheel in passing from its extended to its stowed position is very well shown by this figure.

If the axes 33 are slightly inclined forwardly with respect to the transverse plane perpendicularly penetrated by the longitudinal axis of the backbone I (i. e. the plane in which Figure 6 is drawn) the inward and outward movement of the wheels 26 will be still further accentuated.

Conveniently in a carriage such as shown in the drawings, the pivoting axes 33 for th'e'legs 24 and 25 each subtend' an included angle a with the said longitudinal vertical medial plane 30 (see Figure 6) of 65 /2 so that the axes 33 of'the two notches respectively marked 35 and 36.

studs 32 subtend between themon their upper "sides an angle of "131?, the axes 33 being symmetrical with respect'to the plane 30.

As the 'upper portions H of the legs 24 and are at right angles to the studs '32 and their axes 33, the longitudinal axes of these upper portions of the legs lie in *the planes 34 hereinbefore referredto and subtend, when the" legs are in their operative'positions-shown in Figures 1, 3 and 6,

an angle n of 24- with the said longitudinalmedial planet!) of the backbone I when the angle wis 65 /2. 'Thusthe'upper portions-3| of the legs 24 and 25 splay I downwardly andoutwardly (symmetrically with respect tothe-longitudinal vertiare extended and operative to support the car-.

riage with a bag thereon and, in addition, has

the efiect of relieving the studs 32 of a proportion of the upward thrust resulting from the load-on the legs-this upwardthrustbeing partially transferred ,to the outer cheeks ofjthe pairsof cheeks 28 of "the two brackets 21 of the crosspiece 22, which checks also serve to resist the outward "thrustof the legs of'the carriage whenthese'legs areextended. The inner cheeks-of' each pair of cheek-s28 of the bracketsZ-l-absorb inward thrust appliedto the legs 24 and-255.

One or'both of the cheeks '28 of each of theU- shaped brackets 21 formsia quadrant or 'gatefor co-operation with a catch -for locking the associated legrespectivelyin its operative and stowed positions. In the drawings both cheeks :28 of each bracket 21 function in this way, each-being furnished at 'itsarcuate edge with a pair of notches are each of a rectangular form and are arranged-one near each end of the arcuate edge 'of their sector shaped cheek'128 for selective 'cooperation with'theends 3'! of a catch bar 38projecting radially outwardly, at diametrically op- .posite positions, 'from the correspondingtubular "leg of'the carriage. V ,Aswillbe seen clearly from'Figure 6, the catch bar '38 passes diametrically through the upper part 3| of its carriage leg at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, the leg'being furnished with alongitudinally extending diametrical slot 39 permitting the catch'bar 38 to move upwardly and downwardly in'the leg for the engagement and disengagementof its 'ends'3l with and from then0tches36or35 in the adjacent cheeks28.

Each cross bar 38is'fixed in the lower end of a'plunger'flll coaxially-arranged within'the upper straight portion "3| of the'correspondin carriage 'leg and reciprocable in the latter, the plunger 40 'having'a bearing atea'ch end on the inner suriace'of the leg and normally beingurged upwardly, to bring the catches 3'! into their oper- 'ative positions atthe upper end of the slot '39 in the leg, by means of acompressionspring 4i These 2 l0 within the leg, this slot-beingofa lengthsufllcient to permit the plunger 40 to bedepressediby the applica'tiono'f finger or thumb pressure to its upper end 44 to release the catches 3 fromthe locking engagement with the .cheeks28 inor der to free the leg for movement about'itspivot stud 32. The upper or'outer'end of the spring l l bears against a grub screw 45 screwed into the upper end of the bore-42 of the plunger-40 and enabling the pressure exerted by the spring 4! to be adjusted.

When a leg is in its operative position, the catches 31 engage with notches 36 in the adjacent cheeks 2-8 of the bracketZl and the rear-surface of the leg-bears against the rear -wall 4'5 of the bracket -2'l,- thus relieving the stud 3 2 and-the catches 31 of a substantial percentage of the rearward-thrust applied to'the leg-by-the forward movement of the carriage.- When the leg'isin its stowed position, the catches 3l-engage with the notches 35 in the cheeks 2-8 and in-order toensure registration of the catches -31 'with these notches 35 when the leg is moveolto-the stowed position, a cross bar 56 is provided between the pair of cheeks 23 and against the-innersurface of which the leg engages when it reaches-its stowed posi- 'tion. These cross bars also serve to brace the cheeks 28.

Thus the catches 3T serve-the double 'function of locking their leg alternatively 'in the-stowed and extended positionthereof.

As'the'upper'part 31 of each of'the legs Maud ES'isembraced between a pairtof the said cheeks 28 of a U-shaped bracket "2''! at all times,-it' Will be apparent that the movement of the leg from its stowed position to its extended-position-and vice versa is guided at all times.

Each of the legsz and '25 preferably hasits intermediate portion .47 (see Figure 3) joggled outwardly away from its straight ipivoted upper portion 3!, the lower portion 58 of each legbeing rather nearer to the vertical than the upper portion 3l of the'leg (speaking of the-latter in the position shown in Figure 3) whereby the wheel carried by the lower part of the leg-is disposed in a plane'only a little or? the vertical.

Moreover in their stowed positions the legsof the carriage and'their wheels lie closely alongside the backbone of the carriage with the straight upper parts of the legs substantially parallel to the said backbone but,as the legs are swung'to their extended and operative'positions,

their wheel-carrying ends separate laterally of the backbone, of the carriage so that the legs diverge downwardly'from the said backbone and with respect to one another, wherebythe wheels are more widely spaced with respect to one another when the legs are in their operative .positions than they are when the legs are in their stowed positions. 7

Each of the wheels 26 or" the carriage is mounted on a stub axle 49- see Figures 3 and 5 in particular) secured to one end of a flat leverfifi passing through a diametrical slot "5| in the lower end portion 48 of the associated leg "as or .25,

the lever 50 being pivoted to the leg upon a bolt 52 passingdiametrically through the leg at right angles'to the plane of the lever 56 and the said slot'5l. The lever 50 is adapted to swing about the bolt 52 in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the lower part #8 of the corresponding leg and at right angles to theaxis of thebolt 52, and the bolt 52 is located between theends of the lever 50 (which projects forwardly'and 'rearwardly beyondiits fleg) nearer .thereariend 7 53 of the lever than the front end thereof where the stub axle 49 is carried.

A tension spring 54 is anchored at its lower end to the rear end 53 of the lever 50 and is anchored at its upper end to a screw 55 secured in the carriage leg, the latter being provided with two or more spaced screw threaded holes 56 adapted selectively to receive the screw 55 so that the tension on the spring 54 can be modified according to requirements. Thus each wheel 25 of the carriage is independently resiliently or spring mounted on its leg and the arrangement of the pivot 52 of the lever 50 for each wheel, and the positioning and setting of the spring 54 are such that the wheel leverage progressively increases as the wheel is subjected to load, the springing thus being at first relatively light but progressively increasing in its resistance to the deflection of the wheel in an upward direction.

Rubber or other resilient buffers r cushions 51 are mounted one in the lower end of each of the carriage legs, these buffers or cushions serving as silencers and dampers for the wheel carrying levers 50 against the under edges of which the buffers or cushions are adapted to engage as the wheels are moved upwardly with respect to their legs. The bufiers or cushions 51 are conveniently in the form of rubber or like resilient plugs inserted tightly into the lower ends of the legs and retained in that position by friction or by positive means, such as an adhesive or a cross pin, as indicated by dotted lines at 58 (Figure if desired.

The rear end of the backbone I of the carriage may be furnished with a tail wheel 59 (Figures 1, 2 and 7) mounted on a horizontal spindle 60 carried in an inverted U-shaped bracket 6| fixed to the underside of the L-shaped foot 3 with a spindle at right angles to, but below, the backbone I. This tail wheel may be formed of any suitable material but is preferably formed of a resilient substance such as, for example, rubber or is provided with a tire of such resilient material. The tail wheel 59 gives the carriage, with the wheels 26, a three-point suspension when the legs 24 and 25 are extended and enables the carriage to be traversed over the ground quite easily even when the carriage is merely acting as a stand for the bag, the latter being supported in the usual oblique position in which clubs are removed from, or replaced into, the bag. More particularly however the tail wheel facilitates the movement of the carriage (with the bag thereon) along a railway platform, a pavement, a path, road or the like whilst the main wheels 26 are still stowed; consequently the tail wheel very considerably further facilitates the transport of the bag between the home and the golf course and in like circumstances.

If desired the tail wheel may be resiliently mounted on the backbone I.

In order to bring the plane of the rim of each wheel 26 inwardly nearer to the lower end 48 of the associated carriage leg, and to avoid the necessity for providing the diametrical slot 5| in the lower part of the leg and any danger of the lever rubbing the sides of such slot and creating a squeak or rattle, the modified mounting of the wheel shown in Figures 11 and 12' may be adopted. As will be seen from these figures the pivot 52' for the wheel carrying lever 55 is carried by a lug 62 fixed to the lower end of the corresponding leg 24 or 25 of the carriage and the front part of the lever 50 is joggled in- 8 wardly so as to bring the stub axle '49 of the wheel 26 inwardly slightly so that the rim of this wheel is closer to the lower part 48 of the leg than is the case in the arrangement shown in Figure 3, for example. 7

A still further modified wheel mounting is shown in Figure 13. In this arrangement the wheel carrying lever 50" is carried upon a spindle 52" bonded coaxially to the inner surface of a rubber or other suitable resilient sleeve 63 having its outer surface bonded to the internal surface of a cylinder 64 concentric with the spindle 52" and secured to the lower extremity of the leg 24 or 25 of the carriage with its axis perpendicular to such lower part of the leg, this arrangement providing a resilient mounting of the silent bloc or like rubber to metal type for the said wheel carrying lever 50".

Iclaim:

l. A golf bag carriage comprising a backbone adapted to support a golf bag therealong; a handle for maneuvering the carriage; a pair of similar independent legs; a wheel at the lower part of each of said legs; a pivot on the said backbone for the upper part of each of the said legs; said pivots forming the sole connection between the said legs and the said backbone and being arranged transversely of the longitudinal vertical medial plane of the latter and so as to incline symmetrically upwardly and outwardly from such backbone and each leg being adapted to swing independently of the other leg and about its own pivot from a stowed position in which the leg lies alongside the said backbone to an operative position in which it projects transversely downwardly from such backbone, and vice-versa; and independent spring catch means on each of said legs adjacent the pivoted end thereof for engagement with co-operating notched means on said backbone for locking the leg to said backbone releasably to retain the leg alternatively in either its operative or its stowed position, 7

2. A golf bag carriage comprising a backbone adapted to support agolf bag therealong; a handle for maneuvering the carriage and laterally offset from said backbone; a pair of similar independent legs each having its lower part outwardly cranked from its upper part; a wheel at the lower part of each of said legs; a pivot on the said backbone for the upper part of each of the said legs; said pivots forming the sole connection of said legs to the said backbone and being arranged transversely of the longitudinal vertical medial plane of the such backbone and so as to incline symmetrically upwardly and outwardly from the latter and each leg being adapted to swing independently of the other leg about its own pivot from a stowed .positionin which the leg lies alongside the said backbone to an operative position in which it projects transversely downwardly from such backbone, and 'vice versa; and guide means carried by said backbone for slidably engaging said legs on their outer sides as they swing to and from their stowed positions and for resisting outward lateral thrusts applied to the said legs, and catch means onsaid legs adapted for co-operation with the said guide means to lock the legs alternatively in their operative and stowed positions.

3. A golf bag carriage comprising a backbone adapted to support a golf bagtherealong; a handle for manoeuvringthe carriage and laterally offset from the said backbone; a pair of similar independent legs; a wheel at the lower part of each of. saidlegs; a pivot on the said backbone for-the upper partof. eachtof; thesaid legs; said pivots being arranged-transversely of thelongitudinal vertical medial plane of the. said backbone and toincline symmetrically upwardly and outwardly from suchbackbonev and each leg being adapted to swing independently of the other leg and: about its ow n pivot from: a stowed positionxinwhich. theleg lies alongside the said backboneto' an operative: position in which it projects transverselydownwardlyfromsuch backbone, and vice-versa; a pair of guide cheeksfor each of said legs; such pairs of guide cheeksbeing rigidly carriedby-thesaid backbone and each pair being adapted to embracethe upper part of one of said legs between them to guide.- the leg in its swinging movement from the stowed'to the operative position. and. to absorb lateral thrusts appliedztoxthe; leg; a bearing; surface at the rear ends of: each of the" said pairs of guide cheeks against which the: upper part: of the corresponding leg engages when its operative position; and independent. catch. means on each of said legs adjacent; thepivoted end thereof forreleasably locking the; leg; to its; guide cheekin; either of two alternativepositions; namelya stowed position and: an. operative position".

4. A golf bag carriage comprising a backbone adapted: to supporta golf'bag therealong; a-handie on the said backbone for. manoeuvring the carriage; a pair: of similar independent legs; a wheel at the lowerpart of each of said: legs; a pivot on the" said backbonefor' the: uppenpart of each of the said legs; said pivots. being arranged transverselyof the longitudinal vertical medial plane of the said: backbone and so asto incline symmetricallyupwardlyandoutwardly from; such backbone and". each leg beingi adapted to' swing independently: of theotherleg and: about. its own pivot from a stowed position inxwhichi the le'g'lies alongside the said backbone toaanl operative position in which. it proj ects; transversely downwardly from such backbone, and vice versa; a: pair of guide checks for each: of said legs, such pairs of guide cheeks being rigidly= carried by: the said backbonezand each pair being'adapted to embrace the upper partot: one of": said legs between them to guide the leg'in: its swinging movement from the stowed tothe operative position and'to' absorb lateral thrusts applied to-the leg; a spring, catch on-the upper part ofeach-ofthe' said-legs adapted selectivelytoengage in at leastone of the said adjacent guide cheeks for releasably locking its leg to the said-backbone in either of two alternative positions, namely a stowed positionv and an operative position; andmanually operable means on-each ofsaid legs for releasing the spring'catch ofsuchleg from engagement with the said guide cheek to release the. legfor swinging movement about its pivot.

A golf bag carriage comprising a backbone adaptedto' 5111313011 63. golf. bag therealong; a handle on the said backbone for: manoeuvring the carriage; a pair of; similar independent legs; a pivot on. the said backbone for the upper part of eachof the said legs; said; pivots forming the sole connection of the said-legsto-the saidbackbone and being arranged transversely of the 1ongitudinal vertical medialplane of the said backbone and so asto-incline symmetrically upwardly andv outwardly from the latterand eachleg being adapted to swing. independently of the other leg and about itsown pivot from a stowed position in which the leg lies alongside. the said backbone to an: operative position in which it projects transverselyv downwardly from such backbone, and vice versa; a wheel resiliently mounted on the lower part offeach of said legs; and'independent sliding catch means on each of saidilegs adjacent the pivoted end thereoffor. releasably locking the leg independently of the other leg to the said backbone in either of two alternative positions, namely a stowed position and an operativeposition. i

6. A golf. bag carriage comprising a backbone adapted to supporta golf bagtherealong; a 1ongitudinally and rotationally adjustable handle on the said backbone for manoeuvringthecarriage; a pair of similar independent legs; a pivot on the said backbone for the upper part of each of the said legs; said pivots forming the soleconnection of the said legs to the said backbone and being arranged transversely of the longitudinal vertical medial plane of the backbone. and soas to incline symmetrically upwardly and outwardly fromthe same and each said leg being adapted to swing independently of the other leg and about its-own pivot-from a stowed. positionin which the leg. lies alongside the said, backbone to an operative position in-which it projects transversely downwardly from such backbone, and vice versa; a wheel on the lowerend of each of. said legs; a pair of guide cheeks for each of said legs,.such pairs of guide cheeks being rigidly carried by the said' backbone and each pair being adapted, to-embrace the upper part of one of said legs between them to guide the leg in its swinging movement from the stowed to the operative position and to absorb lateral thrusts applied to the leg; a springcatch on the upper part of eachof the said legs adapted selectively to engage in at least one of the said adjacent guide checks for releasably. lockin its leg to the said backbone ineither of two, alternative positions, namely a stowedposition and an operative position; and manually operable means on each of said legs for releasing. the spring catch of such leg from engagement, with the said guide cheek to release the-leg for swing,- ing movement about its pivot.

7. A golf bagcarriage comprising a backbone adapted to support a golf bag therealong; a handle stowably attached to said backbone and adapted for manoeuvring the carriage; a cross.- piece on said backbone and spaced-from the ends thereof; a pair of similar independent legs; a wheel at the lower part of each ofsaidlegs; a pivot for the-upper part of each of the said legs; said pivots being carried one at each end of the said crosspiece and beingarranged transversely of the longitudinal vertical medial planev of; the said backbone and was to incline symmetrically upwardly and outwardly from such backbone; each of said legs being adapted to swing independently of the other leg and about its own pivot from a stowed. position in which the leg lies alongside the said backbone to an operative position in which it projects transversely downwardly from, such backbone, and vice versa; a pair of guide cheeks for each of said legs, such pairs of guide cheeks being rigidly carried by the said crosspiece and each pair being adapted to embrace the upper part of. one of said legs between themto guide the leg in its swinging movement from the stowed to the operative position and to absorb lateral thrusts applied to the leg; a spring catch on the upper part of each of the said legs adapted selectively to engage in at least one of the said adjacent guide cheeksfor releasably locking its leg to the said backbone in either of two alternative positions, namely a: stowed position and an operative position; and manually operable means on each of said legs for releasing the spring catch of such leg from engagement with the said guide cheek to release the leg for swinging movement about its pivot.

8. A golf bag carriage comprising a backbone adapted to support a golf bag therealong; means for retaining a golf bag on said backbone; a handle stowably attached to said backbone and adapted for manoeuvring the carriage; a crosspiece on said backbone and spaced from the ends thereof; a pivot for the upper part of each of the said legs; said pivots forming the sole connection between the said legs and the said backbone and being carried one at each end of the said crosspiece and arranged transversely of the longitudinal vertical medial plane of the same and also so as to incline symmetrically upwardly and outwardly from such backbone, each of said legs being adapted to swing independently of the other leg and about its own pivot from a stowed position in which the leg lies alongside the said backbone to an operative position in which it projects transversely downwardly from such backbone divergently with respect to the other such leg, and vice versa; a wheel carried by the lower part of each of said legs; a pair of guide cheeks for each of said legs, such pairs of guide cheeks being rigidly carried by the said crosspiece and each pair being adapted to embrace the upper part of one of said legs between them to guide the leg in its swinging movement from the stowed to the operative position; a spring catch on the upper part of each of the said legs adapted selectively to engage in at least one of the said adjacent guide checks for releasably locking its leg to the said backbone in either of two alternative positions, namely a stowed position and an operative position; and manually operable means on each of said legs for releasing the spring catch of such leg from engagement with the said guide cheek to release the leg for swinging movement about its pivot.

9. A golf bag carriage comprising a backbone adapted to support a golf bag therealong; a handle mounted at the front end of the said backbone to one side thereof and adapted for endwise sliding adjustment to either an extended or stowed position at will; means for locking said handle alternatively in one or the other of its two positions; a tail wheel at the rear end of the said backbone; a crosspiece on said backbone and spaced from the ends thereof; a pair of similar independent legs; a wheel resiliently mounted on the lower end of each of said legs; a pivot for the upper part of each of the said legs; said pivots being carried one at each end of the said crosspiece and being arranged transversely of the longitudinal vertical medial plane ofthe said backbone and so as to incline symmetrically upwardly and outwardly from such backbone, each of said legs being adapted to swing independently of the other leg and about its own pivot from a stowed position in which the leg lies alongside the said backbone to an operative position in which it projects transversely downwardly from such backbone, and vice versa; whereby the said wheels are more widely spaced when the legs are in their operative positions than when the legs are in their stowed positions; means at the ends of said crosspiece for embracing and guiding, and for absorbing some of the lateral thrusts applied to the upper parts of said legs; and independent catch means for each of said legs adjacent the pivoted end thereof for 12 releasably locking the leg to the said crosspiece in either of two alternative positions, namely a stowed position and an operative position.

10. A golf bag carriage comprising a backbone adapted to support a golf bag therealong; a handle adapted to serve for manoeuvring the carriage and attached to said backbone so as to be slidable in the direction of the length of the latter for stowing or extension; means for looking the said handle with respect to the said backbone; a crosspiece on said backbone and spaced from the ends thereof; a pair of independent legs each having a straight upper part; a pivot for the said straight upper part of each of the said legs and at right angles to the axis of said straight upper part, said pivots being carried one at each end of the said crosspiece and being arranged transversely of the 1ongitudinal vertical medial plane of the said backbone and so as to incline symmetrically upwardly and outwardly from said backbone at an acute angle of between 60 to 70 to said medial plane; each of said legs being adapted to swing independently of the other leg about its own pivot from a stowed position in which the leg lies alongside the said backbone to an operative position in which it projects transversely downwardly and outwardly from such backbone; a wheel supported at the lower end of each of said legs; a pair of guide cheeks for each of said legs, said pairs of guide cheeks being rigidly carried by the ends of said crosspiece and each pair being adapted to embrace between them the upper straight part of one of said legs to guide the leg in its swinging movement from the stowed to the operative position and vice versa and also to absorb lateral thrusts applied to the leg; and co-operating catch means on the said legs and cheeks for selectively looking the latter either in their stowed or their operative positions.

11. A golf bag carriage comprising a backbone adapted to support a golf bag therealong; a crosspiece on said backbone and spaced from the ends thereof; a pair of independent legs each having a straight upper part; a pivot for the said straight upper part of each of the said legs and at right angles to the axis of said straight upper part, said pivots being carried one at each end of the said crosspiece and being arranged transversely of the longitudinal vertical medial plane of the said backbone and so as to incline symmetrically upwardly and outwardly from said backbone at an acute angle of between 60 to 70 to said medial plane; each of said legs being adapted to swing independently of the other leg about its own pivot from a stowed position in which the leg lies alongside the said backbone to an operative position in which it projects transversely downwardly and 'outwardly from such backbone; a wheel supported at the lower end of each of said legs; a pair of guide cheeks for each of said legs, said pairs of guide cheeks being rigidly carried by the ends of said crosspiece and each pair being adapted to embrace between them the upper straight part of one of said legs to guide the leg in its swinging movement from the stowed to the operative position and vice versa and also to absorb lateral thrusts applied to the leg; co-operating catch means on the said cheeks and legs for selectively locking the latter either in their stowed or their operative positions; a head member secured to the front end of the said backbone and extending laterally therefrom; a handle for manoeuvring the carriage and comprising a stem and a grip 13 14 portion, the said stem being axially slidable in REFERENCES CITED Sam head member and parallel to the Sand back The following references are of record in the bone; and. means for locking the said handle file of this patent: selectively in an extended, stowed or intermediate position and for setting the same in a predeter- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS mined rotational position about the axis of said Number Name Date stem whereby the said grip portion may be fixed 504,817 Plouf Sept. 12, 1893 in a desired plane. 729,931 Hart et a1 June 2, 1903 2,414,017 Carr et al Jan. 7, 1947 JOHN L. STABLEFORD. 1o 

